STYLE ADVICE

Style icon: Keith Richards

By Sarah Kershaw, 9 July 2015

You might think Mick Jagger is the coolest Rolling Stone – he has songs dedicated to his dance moves and a series of supermodel exes after all – but boy, you'd be wrong. Keith Richards, the wilder, edgier 'bandleader' has had bad-boy rocker style down since the 60s and is still working it today. When your image is so notorious Johnny Depp bases a blockbuster character on you, you know you're a true style icon.

Picture: Rex/Getty

From the first time The Stones stepped on stage, Richards' swagger and focus defined his style. Once the band graduated from clean cut, Beatles-esque suits in the mid 60s to more individual looks, he made a uniform of low-cut shirts, skinny suits, granddad tops, neck ties and skinny jeans or flares his own. Complemented by wild long hair (sometimes tamed by a headband) and a moody scowl it made for a classic rocker getup that's been endlessly pastiched in the last 50 years.

Picture: Rex

Off stage, too, he kept up a steady stream of understatedly awesome outfits, with logo sweatshirts, ironic tees ('Who The F*ck Is Mick Jagger?' is a notable one) and leopard print featuring heavily. Accessorising like a boss, he knew how to work a hat, a pair of Aviators and a messy slick of guyliner – still does, if his recent performing getups at the age of 71 are anything to go by. As Richards himself says, 'Rock 'n' roll's great weapon is humour,' and a knowing wink characterises the magpie-like, experience-addled, piratical look that's since inspired pretty much every guy who's ever picked up a guitar to try to write a riff to rival Satisfaction. Good luck, we say.